Youth ministry

We just finished a three-year diocesan training course for youth ministers (see fancy diplomas below... we're in the top left corner... except for our baby of course..she's the center of attention as always). I didn't learn much, except for that being in youth ministry is hard, working with others as part of the Church is hard, but both are incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. So maybe that was learning something.

So as not to put all this magnificent training to waste... :/ ... we've accepted our parish priest's request to lead the youth group again. It started up this week and up until the last minute I was having a mental breakdown and trying to quit, thinking what did we get ourselves into. But then that rewarding/fulfilling thing happened again and it all came together (REALLY last minute) and the meeting turned out alright. I have a feeling this will be an INTENSE year.

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Weekend retreat

This weekend we went to our 7th in nine total retreats that make up the youth ministers' training for the diocese of Lisbon. Even though we currently don't have a youth group... sniff sniff. Although it was very tiring, the schedules are ridiculous and they don't let you rest, it was an overall good experience. We went as a way to connect with the general diocese and we definitely feel more connected. 

It's amazing how much I used to judge normal parishioners here in Portugal, and how meeting these 30 young people (from ages 20-40) has changed my perspective. They are playful, silly and loud, but also deep, genuine and really spiritual. I really enjoy being with them. 

At a morning prayer...

The surroundings...

Our "waiting times" in the meeting room...

At a mass...

On an outing with part of the group...

Pleasantly surprised

I spent this past weekend at a retreat for youth ministers. Other than being really tiring and Portuguese in its schedules (activities finished at 12.30 at night!), it has been the fourth diocesan retreat of the kind I've gone to and the fourth surprise I've gotten... of how awful I thought it would be and how pleasant it actually was. Life is full of surprises sometimes. 

Coming home from far

This weekend I got home late both nights, walking alone through the quiet night. I am starting to agree with my friend Catia who says there is a certain “spirituality of the night”. My legs were tired but my heart was really, really full. It’s that old, familiar “coming home from the youth group” feeling. Also that feeling of accompishment of doing scary things... well for me, do you count making parish announcements as scary?

“Men com tamely home at night only from the next field or street where their household echoes haunt, and their life pines because it breathes its own breath over again; their shadows morning and evening reach farther than their daily steps. We should come from far, from adventures, and perils, and discoveries every day, with new experiences and character.”

(from Walden, by Henry David Thoreau, chapter “Baker Farm”)

Pictures: stained glass at my parish, my daily train trip, a sweet engagement card from my friends in the US I’ve been showing to everyone…

Fatima Jovem 2012

What's it like being in Fatima with 2,800 young people from parish youth groups all over Portugal? Aside from the organization of the event only letting us sleep 4 hours (locking us out of our rooms and making us go to really loud events...ah!)... it was wonderful. It's an annual event called "Fatima Jovem" and we got to stay together as a parish, go on a scavenger hunt through the lesser-known places in Fatima where there are lots of olive trees and participate in the rosary, candle-lit procession and other great things at the sanctuary. I got to be with really, really special people from my youth group and with an amazing man like whom there is no other. What an incredible journey we've been on... together, with the youth group and with GOD!... since four years ago when I invited him to help out with the youth group and he said yes. 

Love notes and mommas

Saturday afternoon I thought my weekend was completely unredeemable. I was back to my indecisive, people-pleasing self. Yet it turns out everything is redeemable. I hope your weekend was as full of people and forgiveness as mine.

A sweet note from my fifth grade student on Friday

A cloudy Saturday afternoon in Lisbon

Handsome practicing our duet

Good Shepherd Sunday

"Know Your Momma" Lifeteen game we played at the youth group

I think this picture of the moms that participated is great!

My Sunday journeys home

Last night I walked home from the train station, a walk that I especially enjoyed, even though it was cold and windy. My Sunday evening journey home is usually bitter-sweet, I'm sad the weekend is over and to be coming home alone, but my heart is usually full, not only with weekend experiences but also because of my youth group and mass at my parish in Lisbon. The last four years at this parish have been full of opportunities for me to learn humility (translation: failure), conflict, hard work, giving of myself... but also forgiveness, friendship, family even (spiritual family), growth, adventure and especially communion.

Last night my heart felt especially "in communion" and full, and even though it was cold and windy, I was happy and at peace (except for the part of starting another work week of course... :o). Everything was quiet and so was I inside. It was a wonderful weekend. Hope your Divine Mercy Sunday was just as divine...! ;)

Happy Easter...!

I'm off to spend a few days in a place without internet access... which will be a welcome break. :)

I hope your Easter is filled with time, community and love. And mine too!

Here are some pictures of Daniel and I at a youth ministry diocese retreat two weeks ago...

PS And here is a post I wrote called "Is Being Single a Failure?"

How to react to failure?

How to react when confronted with failure? Mother Teresa has quite a few things to say about it, a few here:

"If you are discouraged it is a sign of pride because it shows you trust in your own power. Your self-sufficiency, your selfishness and your intellectual pride will inhibit His coming to live in your heart because God cannot fill what is already full. It is as simple as that."

"God doesn't ask that we succeed in everything, but that we are faithful. However beautiful our work may be, let us not become attached to it. Always remain prepared to give it up, without losing your peace."

"Be humble and you will never be disturbed. It is a very difficult in practice because we all want to see the result of our work. Leave it to Jesus."

This weekend I went on a retreat with my youth group. It has been hard to not be discouraged and not depend on the success of what I'm putting my effort into. Last year I quit the youth group, then regretted it and went back, but it suffered a few heavy blows and we're pretty much starting from zero again. There were a total of six people at the retreat and things are looking pretty unsuccessful for the near future, but I'm learning that it might just be in these moments that we learn the most and that the most surprising things happen. I'm learning my real motivations in doing things, accepting my weakness, learning about faithfulness and that relationships really are the most important thing in life. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father, with others, how to love and be loved.

Weekend retreat

This weekend I went on the diocese youth ministry retreat: I had free delicious food I didn't have to cook, very hospitable nuns serving us, healthy conversation and lots of playfulness. I'm still in a lot of confusion/discernment/worry, but I know I am well accompanied. And I know I have to have courage, pray and not worry... now for the actual doing it.

"Pray, hope, and don't worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer."

“Have courage and do not fear the assaults of the Devil. Remember this forever; it is a healthy sign if the devil shouts and roars around your conscience, since this shows that he is not inside your will.” ― Padre Pio

LifeTeen at World Youth Day

LifeTeen interviewed and took photos of me and my youth group at World Youth Day and the video is finally out today! Unfortunately, they didn't use any of MY great interview material ;) but fortunately they did get someone from Portugal... and he's really great! It's our teen named Ze and he's at 4:07, then we're all pictured yelling and jumping. The video is cool too, with or without us in it. ;)

And some pictures: